The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) UK recently launched a research project to build a clear picture of how forestry and other environmental certification is viewed by the market, identifying the misconceptions and gaining insight on how the UK construction sector can be better supported.
Delivered in collaboration with Urban Fox Marketing, the project combined an online survey with in-depth interviews involving PEFC certificate holders, designers, specifiers, builders, timber product manufacturers and wider industry thought leaders.
The project combined an online survey with in-depth interviews involving PEFC certificate holders, designers, specifiers, builders and timber product manufacturers, including thought leaders across sectors. To help reach and engage with these groups, industry bodies supported the project including the Structural Timber Association, Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, the Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland, Woodknowledge Wales and Built by Nature.
The results reflected new insights as well as confirming existing awareness, with the overarching findings highlighting the knowledge gaps that continue to be apparent in the construction industry in relation to the use of timber.
Positively, 83% of respondents thought that environmental certification was important to their business and most strongly agreed that having it shows businesses as forward thinking whilst reassuring customers that products and services are in line with regulations. However, notably, only 57% agreed that it secured their place in the supply chain, suggesting that many businesses don’t fully recognise the wider commercial value certification can offer.
When asked why companies choose forestry certification, respondents said that it was in line with their businesses’ environmental strategy but it was not necessarily linked to commercial value or competitive advantage.
Relating to PEFC certification directly, compliance with legislation and alignment with sustainable building certification schemes were identified as key drivers for uptake. Most respondents were aware of PEFC UK’s work alongside industry associations to promote the use of certified timber, however awareness of the wider range of support, guidance and training available from them was lower. Overall, PEFC UK was seen as a trusted and approachable partner supporting businesses at all stages of their certification journey.
Joshua Goodwin, Quality, Environmental & Sustainability Manager at B&K Hybrid Solutions stated, “Forestry certification enables us to tender for a wide range of projects, making it an essential part of our supply chain. PEFC is a pleasure to work with, and the certification process is both clear and straightforward. The external auditing process is streamlined, efficient, and can typically be completed within half a day.”
The main takeaway from the research was the significant gap in education within the construction market about the positives of using timber. Respondents discussed the lack of awareness around sustainability throughout the supply chain, with deforestation risk associated with timber being cited as a concern to those unaware of sustainable forestry management.
Chain of Custody under the PEFC scheme was also found to be a topic that was not well understood, with an assumption from some that all timber is certified. In fact, concerns were raised around the lack of accountability and the risk of uncertified timber being incorrectly claimed within projects.
Scepticism was also evident among those outside of the direct timber market around the use of timber in construction.
In response to this, Andrew Waugh, Founder and Director at Waugh Thistleton, said “It is incredibly important to ensure that the timber we use is sourced from forests that are sustainably managed. A lot of work needs to be done to address misconceptions around forestry within the construction industry – and with the public at large.”
Overall, certification is widely viewed as an important part of building customer confidence in both brands and products, although many businesses do not yet fully recognise the wider commercial advantages it can offer through competitive differentiation and market access. The research also highlighted a significant need for greater education around Chain of Custody certification and the wider benefits timber can bring to construction, areas where PEFC UK working with their industry partners will continue to support the market through its guidance, training and industry resources.